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Keely Krolikowski signed a letter of intent to play collegiate basketball for Black Hills State University. She is a 5’7 senior guard from Bennett County High School in Martin.

Keely averaged 23 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals a game as a junior for the Warriors. She helped lead her team to the state tournament the last two seasons and is currently working hard to attain her goals in the 2007-08 Season. Bennett County finished fifth in 2006 and second in 2007 in the South Dakota Class A Girls State Basketball Tournament.

Keely has numerous awards and accomplishments during her current stint at Bennett County High School. With a year to go, she has been named to the West River All-Conference team for three years, Badlands All Conference three years, Class A second team all-state in 2006-07, 2007 Class A All Tournament Team, and a 2 time Indian Country All Stars selection.

Keely is also a very good student. She currently carries a 4.0 GPA and is a member of honors society.
“I’m extremely excited about Keely’s decision to come to Black Hills State University,” said head coach Mark Nore. “She is everything I look for in a person and a student/athlete. She is one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen at the high school level.”

“She will be a great fit with our current players as well as for the university,” continued Nore. “I am very excited for the opportunity to coach Keely. She is a perfect fit for our team. She has both the character I look for in our student athletes as well as the great work ethic of the team. I am very excited to welcome her to our family.”
Krolikowski is equally excited about her decision to attend Black Hills State.

“I like the place, the players on the team and the coach,” said Krolikowski. “That is a huge factor in how college goes for you. If you’re not happy with where you’re at, why be there.”
The standout guard said she likes coach Nore’s style. “He is very personable and straight up,” she suggested. “He tells it like it is.” Krolikowski had a chance to meet the current team and said she really likes the players and said they meshed real well. “The girls are really nice and the people in Spearfish were really nice to us when we were there,” she said.

“I’m very happy and content with my decision. I want to go and enjoy every moment of it.” She admitted staying closer to her family played a role in her decision. “I wanted to be close to my family and not miss out on seeing my brothers (Kray and Krockett) grow up. That’s important to me.” Keely’s father, Jeff, is also her high school coach, and he shared many of her sentiments about Black Hills State and the town of Spearfish.

“Coach Nore is a class act and I like the direction he is taking his program,” said coach Krolikowski. “I like the players he recruits. The style of play he has fits Keely well.” “I’m also looking forward to getting the chance to watch her play and cheer for her from the stands, and by her playing closer to home, we can do that.”

Coach Krolikowski said Black Hill State’s recruiting of Keely, combined with the recruiting of former standouts Abby Kratovil and Maggie O’Neill is a testament to the program at Bennett County and will help future players get looked at by college scouts. It shows we are going in the right direction with our transition game, which many coaches are looking for.

“I’m just extremely happy with the fit at Black Hills for Keely,” said coach Krolikowski. “We were well treated by the coaches and the people in the town of Spearfish and that makes for a nice atmosphere.”